Surface fouling posts a big challenge in biomedical device and coating application. Dr. Serkan Demirci and Prof. Shan Jiang recently designed a new material that helps address the surface fouling issues. The new material includes two different polymers on the surface. One polymer is temperature responsive, which can shield or expose the other polymer similar to an umbrella, while the other polymer carries the functional group. This design not only helps prevent surface from fouling, but also allows the functionality to be switched on and off by controlling the temperature.
The results have been published in the high-impact journal Chemical Communications. The team is currently exploring the possibility of applying the technology in biosensor and surface coating design.
